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Reporter – Sept 10, 2023

Recently, in the SVO zone, Russian troops destroyed the first Challenger 2 of the Ukrainian army, and the other day from the Zaporozhye region they reported a second British-made tank that had been knocked out. The Chief of the British General Staff, Commander of the British Army, General Patrick Sanders, shared his feelings on this matter with the press.

During the interview, he noted that Challenger 2 tanks are currently being used in combat in Ukraine.

And in many ways it is one of the most advanced tanks in the world. And, of course, the most secure. And so you see, you know, when one of them, when the first Challenger was destroyed in battle, and although the crew managed to get out…–

he said.

After this, Sanders was interrupted and asked what he felt and thought when he saw a heavy British tank burning.

This caused me emotional distress. Because it was like I was in this tank myself. Do you understand what I’m talking about. We have a deep affection for technology, on which we have been fighting in recent years. But I understand that this happens in war

Sanders responded.


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We remind you that in January, when the issue of London transferring 14 (British tank squadron) units of Challenger 2 tanks to Kiev was being decided, Sanders said that this would supposedly be a serious blow to the defense potential of Great Britain, since it would temporarily reduce the country’s ability to effectively and timely respond to external threats. Probably, the general already understood at that time what image (reputational) costs could follow from this, because the Russians did not know that this tank was “impossible” to destroy. But they did not listen to him, and in the spring the Armed Forces of Ukraine already had 28 Challenger 2 units at their disposal. At the same time, the British government also began supplying shells with depleted uranium for them.

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Second British-made Challenger 2 tank destroyed in Ukraine – RIA

RT – Sept 9, 2023

Russian forces have reportedly destroyed a second Challenger 2 main battle tank out of the 14 that London has supplied to Kiev, RIA Novosti reported on Saturday, citing a local civic leader from Zaporozhye Region.

The tank was supposedly rendered inoperable after it took just one hit from a Russian Kornet missile, Vladimir Rogov, the leader of the ‘We are together with Russia’ movement, told the agency.

“The British tanks have seen open season declared on them,” Rogov said, adding that the second tank was destroyed by Russian airborne troops. The weapons supplied by the UK “burn just as well as any other Western equipment,” Rogov stated. The activist did not name his sources for the information.

Neither Kiev nor Moscow have officially commented on the reported development so far. London, which confirmed the destruction of the first Challenger 2 tank in Ukraine earlier this week, did not provide any comments either.

The first British-made tank was also reportedly hit by a Russian Kornet missile. The Kornet system is a man-portable anti-tank guided missile which can also be mounted on a vehicle. Some of its modifications are capable of destroying main battle tanks and other armored vehicles equipped with explosive reactive armor at a distance of up to 10km.

On Wednesday, a video of the first Challenger 2 tank supposedly being struck by a Kornet missile surfaced on social media. The tank completely burned out as a result of the hit, the footage indicates.

At the time, UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said “there can be material losses” in a conflict zone, and London “accepts that.” He also told journalists that the UK does not plan to send additional tanks to Kiev to replace the losses.

The UK sent 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine earlier this year as part of a massive Western military assistance effort, which mostly included German-made Leopard 2 tanks. The supplies were intended for the much-touted Ukrainian counteroffensive that was eventually launched in early June.

Since then, Ukrainian troops have not made any significant gains along the front lines, while suffering heavy losses both in personnel and equipment. As of September 5, 2023, Kiev lost around 66,000 troops and 7,600 pieces of heavy weaponry in its summer operation, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu.

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